An empty lot on Thode Avenue in Saskatoon, SK on Thursday, January 18, 2018. Some Willowgrove residents are not happy about a proposal to rezone the lot for condo development.Liam Richards / Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Ryan Olde is comfortable with a church, a gated community or single-family houses going up on the empty lot near his Willowgrove home, but he isn’t thrilled about an application to rezone the land for low- to medium-density condominiums.

While Innovative Residential Inc.’s application is consistent with the neighbourhood’s 16-year-old concept plan, Olde said residents were led to believe a church would be built on the site and that allowing the condo development to proceed could have consequences.

“We’ve been talking to some real estate professionals and, with what the developer exclusively builds, this is standing to create a huge depreciation in the nearby homeowners’ property value,” said Olde, who this week launched an online petition against the proposal.

The petition, which as of Thursday had 350 signatures, raises additional concerns — including esthetic contrasts, parking spaces and an “unwelcome safety risk” to children caused by increased traffic — should the “traditional low cost, modular condos (be) developed.”

Innovative Residential project manager Garrett Dmytrowich said that while he understands residents’ concerns, the petition is likely the result of miscommunication or misinformation about the company’s plans. The proposed project has not been finalized, he said.

“We’re a local Saskatoon company,” Dmytrowich said. “We’re definitely always interested in the success of Saskatoon and maintaining a good reputation, and we always try and build projects that we’re proud of and Saskatoon can be proud of.”

According to its website, available condos in previous Innovative Residential projects in Saskatoon range in price from $187,500 for a one-bedroom condo to $297,900 for a three-bedroom townhouse.

The petition lists a gated community or individual houses as “acceptable” alternatives to the Innovative Residential Project. Olde said the community is not concerned about the presence of affordable housing, but the potential effects of the specific development.

“I think what we’re trying to tell the city is it makes sense to build affordable housing in our neighbourhood right now, (but) it’s really about coming and having this abrupt change from something — most churches are architectural specimens — to something that is not,” he said.

Lesley Anderson, the city’s director of planning and development, described Innovative Residential’s proposal as a “low-density dwelling group,” and said the zoning designation it applied for is “very common” in most of Saskatoon’s newer subdivisions.

“This is actually the type of zoning that was originally contemplated for this site when the Willowgrove neighbourhood concept plan was approved in 2002. (It) provided for the site to be developed in this way, with this type of zoning, or as a place of worship.”

Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association CEO Chris Guerette confirmed Thursday that Innovative Residential is a member in good standing, meaning the local firm must meet minimum standards for construction and safety, as well as offer warranties.

Guerette said she understands the concern behind the petition because “change to your neighbourhood is very hard.” At the same time, she continued, Saskatoon is moving to denser neighbourhoods and Innovative Residential contributes to its wide range of available housing.

“We look for all our new neighbourhoods to have a mix of housing types and price range, to allow for a broad range of people to live in that neighbourhood,” Anderson said, noting that the city has previously worked with Innovative Residential on attainable housing projects.

In a post on social media, the Willowgrove-University Heights Community Association said it has a “neutral position” on the petition, and urged those with concerns to attend a public meeting with city officials scheduled for Jan. 23 at Willowgrove Elementary School.

Ward 10 Coun. Zach Jeffries, who lives in and represents Willowgrove, said while he was not surprised by the residents’ “very passionate reaction,” the city’s zoning practices at the time Willowgrove was developed may have left people with the wrong impression.

“That disconnect is what’s actually creating a lot of the neighbourhood discussion,” Jeffries said, adding he is optimistic open communication between concerned residents and the developer will resolve the situation.

Dmytrowich, meanwhile, said the company will attend the public meeting, which is part of the city’s rezoning process — a process Anderson said typically takes about eight months to conclude, meaning a decision could be months away.

“I think it’ll be a good opportunity for the residents to voice their concerns, and for us to be there in person and be able to hear what those concerns are rather than what’s in the petition or hearsay.”

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